Projects awarded grant funding in the South West Net Zero Hub’s Local Net Zero Fund will be completing between this summer up until the end of August.
A total of 15 projects led by councils across the South West region were awarded funding to be spent over a 12-month period to unlock a net zero opportunity. The Fund was split across three pots:
- Local Capacity Grants – Up to £25,000 for flexible support to a range of net zero initiatives.
- Project Development Grants – Up to £100,000 for stalled net zero capital projects that have already established a business case and technical feasibility.
- Strategic Development Grants – Up to £100,000 for knowledge, understanding collaboration and regional capacity building, and to help unlock a key barrier or opportunity.
The projects cover a range of areas, including: the transition of council fleet vehicles to electric vehicles; feasibility studies for solar PV both on rooftops and for ground-mounted arrays; decarbonisation of council-owned buildings; and a regional green hydrogen route map.
Projects were also able to access financial modelling and commercial options appraisal expertise from the Hub team. The Hub is also able to support projects with exploration of private financing options, including with BBRC via their Investment Readiness Advisory Service.
The first of the projects to conclude was completed by Cornwall Council. The council commissioned a piece of work to look at the legal requirements for installation of solar PV on council-owned buildings operating under PFI contracts.
Additionally, one of the outcomes of the project was to produce a guide for other local authorities looking at the legalities of installing solar PV on PFI buildings.
A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said:
“The funding provided by the South West Net Zero Hub has enabled the council to better understand the risks and opportunities for working with our PFI contracts to move to clean power sources, helping to decarbonise the buildings, reduce energy bills and improve energy security. With PFI contracts spanning a range of council services including schools, Fire and waste, this project is of significant importance and will hopefully help serve the many other local authorities with PFI contract in place.”
David Lewis, South West Net Zero Hub Programme Manager said:
“It’s great to see how the Hub’s Local Net Zero Fund has supported so many South West councils to move their clean energy projects forward. Together with expert guidance from the Hub team and the additional offer of investment advice, the funding package has helped to increase the number, scale and quality of net zero projects in the region.
We are now actively seeking new generation projects from our partners where we can provide fully funded support with business cases through to investment, so please do get in touch with us for a conversation about your project.”
Over the coming months we will continue to add case studies to our website as the Local Net Zero Fund projects complete.
- Read the Cornwall Council Local Net Zero Fund project case study
- If you work at a local authority and would like a copy of the guide produced by Cornwall council, please email SWNetZeroHub@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
